CBRM News

Provincial funds mostly all factored in CBRM budget: Clarke

May 22, 2014

SYDNEY, NS - The province has confirmed $725,000 in funding from existing municipal programs, but it will have little impact on CBRM's budget as the funding was already expected and calculated, Mayor Cecil Clarke said today.

Clarke spoke with Municipal Affairs Minister Mark Furey during budget deliberations on Wednesday and today received confirmation of the funding available. The province confirmed $425,000 for transit, $250,000 for wastewater program planning and $50,000 for recreation planning.

Clarke says the transit funding is actually lower than expected as CBRM had calculated $480,000 in the 2014/15 capital budget.

The $250,000 for wastewater planning will allow CBRM to reallocate gas tax to local roads, but in all, the municipality is only ahead by $195,000 which must be applied to capital costs such as roads, not operating pressures like services.

Residential Heavy Garbage Collection set for Monday, May 5th, 2014

April 22nd, 2014

CBRM, NS – The CBRM Solid Waste Department's annual Heavy Garbage collection is scheduled for Monday, May 5th, 2014. Residents who live at properties eligible for curbside collection must have their large, heavy or bulky materials curbside no later than 6 a.m. on Monday May 5th. To review the guidelines for Heavy Garbage Collection, residents are encouraged to visit the CBRM website at www.cbrm.ns.ca or phone the Waste Management hotline at 567-1337. Educators are available to answer questions about Heavy Garbage Collection from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Mayor and Council to host One Nova Scotia summit for CBRM residents

April 11, 2014

SYDNEY, NS - In response to the One Nova Scotia report released on February 15, Cape Breton Regional Municipality council voted unanimously to host a summit to review the report and to provide a thoughtful community response.

"At this point we are unable to balance the budget without tax increases, cuts or reduction of services because of a steady increase in costs added by the province," said Mayor Clarke. "We are at an impasse. We are postponing our budget deliberations. We need the provincial government's Municipal Affairs officials to be a serious partner as we move forward."

Online access now available for building permit applicants

March 17, 2014

SYDNEY, NS - CBRM has implemented a process to allow building permit applicants online access to their building permit applications and their approved building permit information.

The building permit process in CBRM has been made more open and accessible to building permit applicants by providing them with the ability to access their application online using a PIN (Personal Identification Number) to check their status. The login is at http://permits.cbrm.ns.ca/.

Four Cape Breton municipalities to work together on economic development

Declaration of Cooperation reached on new development organization

January 28, 2014

SYDNEY, NS – Cape Breton Island's four largest municipalities, representing all four of the island's counties and most of the island's residents, have agreed to collaborate on the establishment of an economic development organization. The municipal leaders of all four municipalities participated in a signing today at the Whycocomagh Fire Hall.

The new organization will be a part of the province's Regional Enterprise Network (REN). Regional Enterprise Networks will provide regional economic leadership and help develop regional economic strategies, while supporting small, local businesses.

I have exercised my authority, under emergency management, as it relates to the safety and security of the citizens of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Today I have informed the Attorney General's office of my order to the Chief of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service, Peter McIsaac, to request the RCMP, under their mandate to the province as the provincial police service, to be prepared to provide emergency police services for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.